Welcome

This website is now an archive of the restoration and should only be used as a resource. Please visit the Lion Salt Works website for the most up-to-date information.

Welcome to the Lion Salt Works blog

The Lion Salt Works is a historic brine salt making site that is being restored and transformed into a unique heritage attraction. Led by Cheshire West and Chester Council, this £8million project will see the site reborn as a fascinating destination for tourists, day visitors and families and a valued resource for local communities, businesses and heritage interest groups.

Located in the village of Marston, close to the town of Northwich, the site lies adjacent to the Trent and Mersey Canal and is close to the historic Anderton Boat Lift. A substantial part of the site is a Scheduled Monument.

Restoration work has now started on the site, with an expected opening in spring 2015. The Lion Salt Works is currently closed to the public.

Friday, 11 July 2014

As people pass the Lion Salt Works they get brief views of the restored buildings. Entering the final months of the restoration the buildings are taking form on both the interior and exterior of the salt works.

Looking across the Ollershaw Lane Flash, the salt works can be seen in the distance

Crossing the bridge over the Trent and Mersey canal, drivers catch a glimpse of the restored Stove Houses 2 and 3

The exterior of the salt works along Ollershaw Lane is still clad in fencing

Inside the Historic Core

The restoration work within the historic core of pan and stove houses is all but complete with the final touches being undertaken at the present time.

Pan 3 is protected by rails

Stove House 3, the walkway to Pan House 3

The interior warehouse of Stove House 3 is complete

Glass panels allow visual access to the level below where salt would have been passed up the hatches

A newly inserted walkway gives access through the Packing Area from Stove House 4 to Stove House 2

Stove House 2, interior is complete

The Loading Bay has been begun with a new platform acting as a fire escape

A fire escape has been built from the Packing Area and Stove House 3

The final panels are added to the Link Bridge

The Loading Bay and Link Bridge are almost complete

The Red Lion Inn

The Red Lion Inn will act as the museum and education suite. It is currently being modernised to allow access to all.

The Red Lion Inn, the disabled lift and access give access to the education suite

Red Lion Inn, ground floor museum, the walls have been plastered

Red Lion Inn, First Floor, the education suite is progressing

The Peripheral Buildings and Areas

The areas around the main salt works contain a number of buildings. All of these required some restoration and alteration to make them suitable for full access. They also require landscaping to provide a car park and visitor access.

Pump House, the roof is repaired

The exterior of the Pump House is complete and an access ramp constructed

Disabled access has been added to the Manager's House

The Manager's House, the interior panels have been removed to treat the area for damp

Stove House 5, the road and open spaces around the building are complete

A pathway leads from the canal up to Stove House 5

Stove House 5

Stove House 5 acts as both cafe and visitor's centre, and a new conference facility on the first floor. The final touches have been put to the building in the last few days. The Link Bridge, newly built replacing the original allows access between Stove House 5 and the Historic Core.

Members of the Manage+ European Funding Team and Councillor Stuart Parker stand outside the completed Stove House 5. Money from Manage+ helped fund the new conference facility.

The new visitor's cafe and entrance

The conference facility on the first floor

The Link Bridge between Stove House 5 and the Historic Core takes shape